Comments on: Watch Out For Ghrelin

By: carolina moon

carolina moon — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:48:41 +0000

i had my throid treated w/radioactive iodine in 1980 for hyperthyroidism. Todate, last ultrasound showed my thyroid is barely there. My metabolism is running 18 percent higher. Consequently, i have abundant energy and my is 116#. I was 142 three years ago. The Dr keeps lowering my Synthroid.. And now i’m not feeling so hungry. I want to gain about 10+ # .Any ideas what’s going on?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:21:16 +0000

You ask a very interesting question: “What is it about processed food that makes me want to eat more? Is it more digestible? Has it been specially formulated to taste good?”
The answer is yes yes yes. The big culprit here IS a hormone – it’s insulin (which also works in with thyroxin and ghrelin in a complex manner, mediated by endocrine glands in the brain and neck). The ’starch industry’ makes food cheaply, sells it expensively, and relies on the fact that it is naturally addictive (compounded by other stimuli like fat and salt). Refined starch stimulates high insulin soon after consuming it. Fast food companies don’t need to add ghrelin – it is a natural secondary consequence of the insulin-thyroxine cycle that your body mounts in response to the intake of highly refined starch that spikes your blood sugars. Any dieter will tell you, fries, potatoes, white bread, white rice, white pasta, crisps, cookies and corn snacks are what they often crave, and these in turn stimulate the appetite, via insulin, not long after they’re eaten. There’s a simple rule for good health – eat food that is recognizably connected to its origin – it should look like its original form, (be it meat, fish, milk, grain, fruit, vegetable) not like something extruded, denatured, pulverised or injected with oil (or hormones) in a factory.

By: Chelsea M Heffner

Chelsea M Heffner — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:53:50 +0000

This makes me not want to eat junk food anymore. This is another reason why we need to eat healthy and be VERY careful with what we put in our mouths and diets.

By: Vas

Vas — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:43:13 +0000

I never touch fast food, this is pretty gross.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:07:36 +0000

It’s amazing the amount of fast food that we ate when the kids where younger, running from one activity to another. Lifestyle has much to do with eating processed foods. Simplifying life is a great help. Slowdown, eat ’slow food’ and enjoy it more.